Search In

Main menu

Search results

Exploring digital divides: An examination of eHealth technology use in health information seeking, communication and personal health information management in the USA.

Creator

Lustria, Mia, Smith, Scott, Hinnant, Charles

Abstract/Description

Recent government initiatives to deploy health information technology in the USA, coupled with a growing body of scholarly evidence linking online heath information and positive health-related behaviors, indicate a widespread belief that access to health information and health information technologies can help reduce healthcare inequalities. However, it is less clear whether the benefits of greater access to online health information and health information technologies is equitably... Show moreRecent government initiatives to deploy health information technology in the USA, coupled with a growing body of scholarly evidence linking online heath information and positive health-related behaviors, indicate a widespread belief that access to health information and health information technologies can help reduce healthcare inequalities. However, it is less clear whether the benefits of greater access to online health information and health information technologies is equitably distributed across population groups, particularly to those who are underserved. To examine this issue, this article employs the 2007 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) to investigate relationships between a variety of socio-economic variables and the use of the web-based technologies for health information seeking, personal health information management and patient-provider communication within the context of the USA. This study reveals interesting patterns in technology adoption, some of which are in line with previous studies, while others are less clear. Whether these patterns indicate early evidence of a narrowing divide in eHealth technology use across population groups as a result of the narrowing divide in Internet access and computer ownership warrants further exploration. In particular, the findings emphasize the need to explore differences in the use of eHealth tools by medically underserved and disadvantaged groups. In so doing, it will be important to explore other psychosocial variables, such as health literacy, that may be better predictors of health consumers' eHealth technology adoption. Show less

The potential of terrorists and other enemies to use the Internet and/or other digital information technologies as transport vehicles of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) is becoming more evident. This threat may involve cyber-assisted biochemical transactions, which can be performed through olfactory information exchanges, to attack civilian and military targets anytime. In response, this research is the product of a four-year investigation wherein the researcher went through a rich archive... Show moreThe potential of terrorists and other enemies to use the Internet and/or other digital information technologies as transport vehicles of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) is becoming more evident. This threat may involve cyber-assisted biochemical transactions, which can be performed through olfactory information exchanges, to attack civilian and military targets anytime. In response, this research is the product of a four-year investigation wherein the researcher went through a rich archive of declassified U.S. military reports (covering biochemical warfare and techno-terrorism)and a selective list of patent applications revealing several concepts related to users' adoption of emergent cyber-assisted olfaction and aroma-embedded information systems. And after a rigorous analysis of the findings, the researcher hypothesized that careless adoption of unsafe technologies could accelerate a cyber-WMD-nexus. Thus, the study conducted in support of this research sought to examine and explain the adoption of emergent cyber-assisted olfactory information technologies. Cyber-assisted olfaction is an emergent technology that involves the replication of the human sense of smell by computer systems. It can be manifested in the stimulation of human olfactory receptors by computer-emitted biochemical or aromatic particles. Certain olfaction-based biosensors, known as electronic noses, mimic the sense of smell to detect chemical plumes (aroma or warfare agents) in a variety of settings. Notably, the literature revealed an innovative dimension of multimodal, affective human-computer interactions involving scented emails, aroma therapy, and olfaction-based marketing. Unfortunately, the lack of security and safety persists at a potentially catastrophic cost, which is at the root of the researcher's stated research problem below. Largely supported by Everett Rogers' innovation diffusion theory (IDT) and Fred Davis' technology acceptation model (TAM), the researcher went beyond the "smell-o-vision" aphorism to offer a fertile ground for a new, comprehensive, and flexible framework to understand various aspects of cyber-assisted olfactory information systems, which may be usefully applied to a wide range of auxiliary information systems (i.e., standard, micro, and nano devices). In relation to national security and defense, the proposed Model for Safer Cyber-Assisted Olfaction (MSCAO) can be applied in subway systems, aircrafts, cruise ships, and various mixing/distribution systems (i.e., water systems and chemical plants) to automatically detect and neutralize a biological or chemical threat. Many military applications are also anticipated for emerging urban warfare and emergency rescue operations using devices such as miniature robots and nano air vehicles (NAVs). Consistent with the aim of this investigation, the researcher used a mixed-methods approach that combined (1) the content analysis of a series of declassified military reports on airborne warfare agents with that of (2) a patent search on aroma-embedded information systems to examine, with the help of a carefully designed survey instrument, the perceptions of potential adopters of the proposed MSCAO. Further, in order to collect data and obtain statistical evidence linked to the selected variables (perceived credibility, ease-of-use, and usefulness), the researcher surveyed a diverse group of students from a major Engineering School in southeastern United States, which offers degree programs in Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical and Biomedical Engineering. Based on the analysis performed, credibility, ease-of-use, and usefulness were found to be significant enough to be considered as positively influencing the acceptability of the MSCAO. In essence, the respondents expressed a significantly high level of need for harm-reduction and cyber security measures against potential threats and considered the MSCAO as meeting their need. Perceived usefulness (67%) was identified as the principal determinant of the respondents' intention to adopt the proposed model. Though less substantial than perceived usefulness, perceived ease-of-use (56%) appeared to have a greater influence on the MSCOA than perceived credibility (54%). In sum, extrapolating from the findings reported herein, the researcher concluded that potential users are more likely to accept an emergent technology that is useful, easy-to-use, and that offers credible harm-reduction measures. Show less

Developing effective self-care behaviors in college is an important factor affecting undergraduate students' academic achievement and overall adult health outcomes. To address the gap in both research and practice between information literacy and health education targeting undergraduate students, this study explores to what extent undergraduates demonstrate health information literacy (HIL) competency in their health information seeking and use for self-care. It employs Dervin's sense-making... Show moreDeveloping effective self-care behaviors in college is an important factor affecting undergraduate students' academic achievement and overall adult health outcomes. To address the gap in both research and practice between information literacy and health education targeting undergraduate students, this study explores to what extent undergraduates demonstrate health information literacy (HIL) competency in their health information seeking and use for self-care. It employs Dervin's sense-making theory as a framework, which characterizes human information seeking and use as situation-gap-bridge-outcome occurring through different contexts within time and space. A three-phase design for data collection was used: 1) a group-administered survey, 2) a semi-structured interview, and 3) a follow-up observational study of online health information searches using think-aloud protocols. The study results provide a better understanding of how students' HIL competency shapes their health information-seeking behaviors and affects their self-care activities. Given that health information literacy is a multifaceted integrated skill set, contextual factors, such as information environment, health issues, and self-care situations, would not likely change the fundamental skill base that comprises HIL, but these different situations often demand different levels of HIL knowledge and skills. Many students in the study demonstrated insufficient HIL knowledge and skills in some specific contexts of seeking and using health information for self-care. This insufficiency can compromise the extent and usefulness of their health information seeking. Some of them were unaware of their insufficiency based on the inconsistency between their perceived and actual HIL competency as demonstrated in the interview and the observational study. Therefore, the study contributes both theoretical and practical knowledge to the currently limited body of research on undergraduate students' health information-seeking behaviors and health information literacy. Its results present important insights for the future development of more effective college HIL intervention strategies that can help in addressing current or potential student public health issues. Moreover, the results are useful to inform the development of an effective HIL measurement instrument without overemphasizing one or two components of the HIL skill set, such as educational level or computer skills. Show less

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate how isolated immigrant adolescents seek and use necessary information when they are not able to use significant information sources--their peer groups--in the period of transition before new peer groups are established. Method: To achieve the study's purpose, sixteen recently arrived (three years or less) Korean immigrant adolescents (12 and 18 years old) were recruited through snowballing and convenience samplings. For data collection, a... Show morePurpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate how isolated immigrant adolescents seek and use necessary information when they are not able to use significant information sources--their peer groups--in the period of transition before new peer groups are established. Method: To achieve the study's purpose, sixteen recently arrived (three years or less) Korean immigrant adolescents (12 and 18 years old) were recruited through snowballing and convenience samplings. For data collection, a mixed method including survey and in-depth interview was employed through three research phases. First, participants' demographic profiles and their information use environments [IUEs] were described through survey and interview (Phase I: Survey/In-depth Interview). Second, participants' isolated status was measured with three measurement scales and the motivation and contextual backgrounds of the survey results were analyzed via interview (Phase II: Surveys/In-depth Interview). Third, isolated Korean immigrant adolescents' migration journey and their information needs and seeking behaviors were described in interviews (Phase III: In-depth Interview). Finding: In analyzing the study participants' everyday life information seeking and their contextual features, such as their isolated condition and motivation for migration, a preliminary understanding of isolated adolescents' information world was gained: how they interpret their current situations and daily hassles, seek (or do not seek), and utilize information to cope with their daily life problems, and evaluate their use of information, including library systems and interpersonal sources. In particular, three main information needs were found: ELIS Need 1--English language skills to facilitate learning activities in school in the United States; ELIS Need 2--Social skills to facilitate making friends and to become accustomed to American culture and normative behaviors; ELIS Need 3--Study skills to facilitate academic success in highly competitive educational environments in Korea. To fulfill their cognitive needs--ELIS Need 1 and ELIS 3--the participants usually sought parents, teachers, Internet sources, and DIY. For their socio-affective needs--ELIS Need 2, they used guidance or counseling from their parents or selected passive coping strategies, such as the ignorance of their reality or information-avoiding. Their main information needs were usually satisfied through the information sources provided by their family members--parents. Conclusion: Five main emergent themes were analyzed from the findings (six categories of findings) and pertinent theories/models to interpret these unique features were suggested and discussed: Parents attachment in information seeking and uses (Theme 1); Dependence on interpersonal information sources (Theme 2); Information Ground (Theme 3); Two-step flow (Theme 4); Passive information-seeking, information-avoiding and ignorance (Theme 5). Also, this study suggested some empirical alternatives and implications to improve isolated immigrants' information world: (1) Peer-mentoring program; (2) Immigrant parents' school involvement/parents' education; (3) Teachers' education of cultural competence skills; (4) Library PR; (5) Library outreach to whole immigrant family members as a unit. Finally, the contributions of the study in several key areas, the limitation of this study and future studies--to supplement the limitation of this study and to interpret the emergent unique social and information phenomena--were suggested and discussed. Show less

Date Issued

2013

Identifier

FSU_migr_etd-7452

Format

Thesis

Title

Transitioning from the Out Date: Information Seeking Behavior of Junior Enlisted Army Veterans of Operation Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.

This thesis is an exploratory study of the information seeking behavior of junior enlisted United States Army veterans of Operation Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. During this study, twenty-five qualitative interviews were conducted with veterans residing in the vicinity of Fayetteville, North Carolina. Veterans in this study discussed their experiences with the Army Career and Alumni Program (ACAP), the Veterans Affairs Office, non-profit agencies, and extended families as primary sources of... Show moreThis thesis is an exploratory study of the information seeking behavior of junior enlisted United States Army veterans of Operation Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. During this study, twenty-five qualitative interviews were conducted with veterans residing in the vicinity of Fayetteville, North Carolina. Veterans in this study discussed their experiences with the Army Career and Alumni Program (ACAP), the Veterans Affairs Office, non-profit agencies, and extended families as primary sources of information during and after transition using their reported "out date" as a frame of reference. The types of information that the veterans sought prior to transition and currently seek were discussed and compared to analyze their information seeking behavior and how it changes as veterans seek to contextualize and make sense of their place in the civilian world. Show less

Date Issued

2013

Identifier

FSU_migr_etd-7409

Format

Thesis

Title

Information and Culture: Cultural Differences in the Perception and Recall of Information from Advertisements.

Information in general is congruent with cultural values because a culture consists of transmitted social knowledge. Cross-cultural research demonstrates that audiences who are fostered by different cultures may have different understandings of information. This research represents a comprehensive cross-cultural study using an experimental method, and contributes to multicultural studies in understanding individuals' perceptions of information, recalls of information, and attitudes based on... Show moreInformation in general is congruent with cultural values because a culture consists of transmitted social knowledge. Cross-cultural research demonstrates that audiences who are fostered by different cultures may have different understandings of information. This research represents a comprehensive cross-cultural study using an experimental method, and contributes to multicultural studies in understanding individuals' perceptions of information, recalls of information, and attitudes based on cultures. This study investigates whether people in individual or collective cultures have different perceptions of information in advertisements, recall of information in advertisements, and attitudes toward advertisements providing information in high- or low- context conditions. The theoretical frameworks of interest in the study are two cultural theories: Hofstede's (1980) individualism vs. collectivism and Hall's (1976) high context vs. low context. The hypotheses were tested using a 2 × 2 factorial between-subject experimental design: individualism/collectivism and high context/low context. The low-context condition employed facts and direct information in a test advertisement, while the high-context condition included indirect messages (e.g. images, moods, and symbols) in a test advertisement. The responses of experimental groups were compared and analyzed after they were exposed to two different stimuli. The subjects consisted of 82 American students and 82 Korean students. To check the two subject groups' cultural differences, this research employs Oyserman et al.'s (2002) individualism and collectivism scale. The test results indicate that American subjects are classified as an individualistic culture, while the Korean subjects represent a collectivistic culture. The experiment results indicate that students in individualistic and collectivistic cultures respond differently to information in high- or low-context advertisements. Koreans tend to be more comfortable with high-context culture that uses indirect and ambiguous messages. The Korean subjects showed higher ratings for perceptions of information in a high-context advertisement than the American subjects. The American subjects perceived more information than Korean subjects in the low-context advertisement, but this result was not statistically significant. There is no statistically significant difference in recall of information from high- and low-context conditions between American and Korean subjects. The American subjects showed significantly more favorable attitudes toward the low-context advertisement than the Korean students. However, there was no statistically significant difference in attitudes toward the high-context advertisement between American and Korean students. This study partially supports the notion that cultural differences influence the perception of information in advertisements, recall of information in advertisements, and attitudes toward advertisements providing information in high- or low- context conditions. The findings obtained in this study suggest several exciting opportunities for future research. Show less

Date Issued

2012

Identifier

FSU_migr_etd-4950

Format

Thesis

Title

Gifted Youth and Their Hobbies: An Exploration of Information Behavior.

This study was conducted as a way to begin to fill a gap in the literature regarding young people and hobby pursuit. Through intensive exploratory research, the study sought to explicate the information behaviors of gifted young people related to their hobby pursuit. Focus groups and home visits were conducted and participants were given the opportunity to review the results for accuracy. Thirty two young people participated in focus groups, twelve in home visits, and three in review of data... Show moreThis study was conducted as a way to begin to fill a gap in the literature regarding young people and hobby pursuit. Through intensive exploratory research, the study sought to explicate the information behaviors of gifted young people related to their hobby pursuit. Focus groups and home visits were conducted and participants were given the opportunity to review the results for accuracy. Thirty two young people participated in focus groups, twelve in home visits, and three in review of data analysis. It was found that three different themes are commonly at play in the hobby pursuit of gifted young people: "Always Activated," or the idea that even when participants are not actively engaged in hobby pursuit, hobbies still play an important role in their everyday behavior; "Adult Facilitated Access," referring to the ways that adults facilitate hobby pursuit in young people's lives - this theme speaks to the mediating role that adults must play in order to introduce young people to potential hobby interests and to support hobby pursuit once it has germinated; and "Autonomy," or the ways that gifted youth make choices about what to do at any given time, how to solve problems, and who to consult when outside help is deemed necessary. It was also found that the participants are very independent, preferring to address challenges on their own. They use a variety of information sources and they make complex decisions about how to share information about their hobbies based on the recipient's level of expertise. In addition, they make decisions about the extent to which feedback should be heeded, based on the level of expertise of the person providing the feedback. As a result of the study, it was determined that Everyday Life Information Seeking, Serious Leisure, and theories of intrinsic motivation can be used effectively with younger subjects, although the idea of adult facilitation needs to be addressed. It was also determined that a large number of young people are introduced to their hobbies through school programs, either special classes held once or twice a week (such as chorus or art) or after-school activities like debate clubs. This provides an argument for retaining funding for these programs. Further research will replicate the current study with a wider range of ages and will examine such factors as race and family make-up to determine their potential impact on phenomena related to hobbies and information behavior. In addition, more attention will be paid to hobby genesis and hobby development over time. Show less

Date Issued

2013

Identifier

FSU_migr_etd-8536

Format

Thesis

Title

An Investigation of the Use of Synchronous Text-Based Communication Technologies by Undergraduate University Students.

This dissertation presents the results of an exploratory study which examined the use of synchronous text-based communication technologies (SMS texting and instant messaging) by undergraduate university students generally 18 to 24 years old. Preliminary focus groups were conducted in order to gain additional understanding of their usage of these communication technologies and to help refine the final questions used in the online survey. About a third of the over 200 students contacted,... Show moreThis dissertation presents the results of an exploratory study which examined the use of synchronous text-based communication technologies (SMS texting and instant messaging) by undergraduate university students generally 18 to 24 years old. Preliminary focus groups were conducted in order to gain additional understanding of their usage of these communication technologies and to help refine the final questions used in the online survey. About a third of the over 200 students contacted, participated in the online survey investigating their usage of these technologies. The study revealed that among this group, SMS texting is the most frequently used synchronous text-based technology but many are also using other types such as Facebook Chat and instant messaging. This group used multiple devices to conduct their communications with text-enabled cell phones and laptop computers being the most widely used. While mobility is claimed to be an important advantage of these devices and technologies, over 82% of their communications take place from their home, dorm room, or workplace. The students also find these synchronous text-based technologies to be overwhelmingly effective for communicating with friends, siblings, and acquaintances but much less so for communicating with parents, teachers, and employers. One unanticipated finding from the study was that 37% of the undergraduate students were actually over 24 years old. This finding opened up another avenue of investigation, a comparison of the responses of the students from the two age groups. Numerous measurable differences were discovered between the two age groups when their responses we analyzed. Finally, the study explored some relevant theories which may explain in part or in whole the texting behaviors of undergraduate students as observed in the study. Three theories that fall into this category were examined: Media Richness Theory, the Technology Acceptance Model, and the Uses and Gratifications Theory. Show less

This study investigated personal information behavior and information needs that 21 adults managing life with Type 2 diabetes identify explicitly and implicitly during discussions of item acquisition and use of health information items that are kept in their homes. Research drew upon a naturalistic lens, in that semi-structured interviews were conducted in participants' homes. The rich narratives provide insights into situational relevance associated with kept health information items, the... Show moreThis study investigated personal information behavior and information needs that 21 adults managing life with Type 2 diabetes identify explicitly and implicitly during discussions of item acquisition and use of health information items that are kept in their homes. Research drew upon a naturalistic lens, in that semi-structured interviews were conducted in participants' homes. The rich narratives provide insights into situational relevance associated with kept health information items, the uses thereof, and stated information needs. The descriptions of situational relevance were analyzed for themes of information keeping and use in context, as well as expressions of information need that were implicit to participants' situations. The study and its pre-test were conducted in a mid-sized city in the Southeast from April to September 2011. All pre-test (n = 3) and study participants were recruited from diabetes education classes, conducted at a diabetes center associated with a teaching hospital. The study participants were 38-79 years old (mean = 60 years, SD = 9.5) and the majority of participants were female (n = 15, 71%), white/Caucasian (n = 17, 81%), employed (n = 13, 62%), married (n = 11, 52%), insured (n = 18, 86%), and new to diabetes (diagnosis < 3 months n = 15, 71%). Participants kept 706 items in the home, but only a subset (n = 300) were used to manage life with Type 2 diabetes. The interviews focused on these kept and used items to guide the study, similar to the notion of critical incident, to address questions of personal context, information needs, and item uses. Results showed that participants primarily kept and used paper-based items, but digital items, e.g., bookmarked websites, were also used. Results also show that the categories found in literature for `Item Type' and for `Item Use' required expansion. Findings also revealed that individuals with Type 2 diabetes may keep and use health information items to manage life with diabetes within four primary contexts: activity, adjustment, challenge of living with diabetes, and emotion. Analysis of information keeping and use in context showed that kept information items, when examined within a lens of situational relevance, can provide insight into information needs that individuals with Type 2 diabetes may not readily identify. Show less

Mobile devices with Internet capabilities and applications have dramatically increased the convenience of accessing information for community college students. This study uses technology acceptance theory as a theoretical framework to examine the determinants associated with community college students' behavioral intention to use of mobile learning and mobile library resources. The acceptance of mobile learning by students and educators is critical to the successful implementation of mobile... Show moreMobile devices with Internet capabilities and applications have dramatically increased the convenience of accessing information for community college students. This study uses technology acceptance theory as a theoretical framework to examine the determinants associated with community college students' behavioral intention to use of mobile learning and mobile library resources. The acceptance of mobile learning by students and educators is critical to the successful implementation of mobile learning systems therefore it is important to understand the factors that affect student intentions to use mobile learning. This research is based on relevant technology acceptance literature and the the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). The purpose of this study is to test the determinants of the behavioral intention to use mobile learning by community college students and to discover if there exist either age or gender differences in the acceptance of mobile learning. The results indicate that performance expectancy, social influence, perceived playfulness of learning, and voluntariness of use were all significant determinants of behavioral intention to use mobile learning. Effort expectancy and self-management were not found to be significant predictor variables. This research provides useful information in understanding the drivers of acceptance for mobile learning in order to take proactive interventions for students that may be less inclined to adopt mobile learning. Show less

This study investigated college students' attitudes toward and intentions to use personal health portals (PHPs) for managing their personal health information using a survey method. The study also aimed to examine the roles electronic Personal Health Information Management (PHIM) anxiety and apathy play in influencing students' attitudes toward and intention to use PHPs. A total of 242 college students participated in this study. Results of regression analyses yielded only partial support for... Show moreThis study investigated college students' attitudes toward and intentions to use personal health portals (PHPs) for managing their personal health information using a survey method. The study also aimed to examine the roles electronic Personal Health Information Management (PHIM) anxiety and apathy play in influencing students' attitudes toward and intention to use PHPs. A total of 242 college students participated in this study. Results of regression analyses yielded only partial support for the hypotheses proposed. In particular, the findings show that perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness significantly influenced attitudes towards the use of PHPs. Additionally, the results show that computer anxiety significantly moderated the relationships between perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness and attitudes. On the other hand, while there was a significant relationship between attitudes, social norms, perceived behavioral control and intentions to use PHPs, apathy or anxiety were not found to significantly moderate this relationship. Additional exploratory analyses were conducted to test electronic PHIM anxiety and electronic PHIM apathy as direct predictors. While electronic PHIM apathy was significant at predicting attitudes toward and intentions to use PHPs, electronic PHIM anxiety was not a significant predictor of intentions to use a PHP. Show less

Date Issued

2011

Identifier

FSU_migr_etd-1275

Format

Thesis

Title

Neurophysiologic Analysis of the Effects of Interactive Tailored Health Videos on Attention to Health Messages.

Web-based tailored approaches hold much promise as effective means for delivering health education and improving public health. This study examines the effects of interactive tailored health videos on attention to health messages using neurophysiological changes measured by Electroencephalogram (EEG) and Electrocardiogram (EKG). Sixty-eight college students were randomized to examine one of two conditions: an interactive tailored health video using web-automated human interaction technology... Show moreWeb-based tailored approaches hold much promise as effective means for delivering health education and improving public health. This study examines the effects of interactive tailored health videos on attention to health messages using neurophysiological changes measured by Electroencephalogram (EEG) and Electrocardiogram (EKG). Sixty-eight college students were randomized to examine one of two conditions: an interactive tailored health video using web-automated human interaction technology or a static site on the same health topic. Neurophysiological changes during exposure to stimuli were measured using event-related potentials (ERP) related toP300 and N1, as well as heart rate variability (HRV), including low-frequency power (LF), high-frequency power (HF), and the LF/HF ratio measurements. A survey questionnaire examined participants' self-reported perceptions about their viewing experience including: attention, interactivity, overall evaluation, preference, and engagement. Results show that the P300 and HF values were significantly higher when viewing the WAHI compared to when viewing the static site, indicating greater levels of attention, which was confirmed by the self-reported data. These results suggested that interactive tailored health intervention programs achieved a relatively greater effect on attention levels indicated by ERP, HRV and self-report, when compared to static message delivery. The study indicated that further research should investigate other neurophysiologic analyses as possible means to better assess the impact of interactive tailored video as a health education approach. Show less

Date Issued

2011

Identifier

FSU_migr_etd-3150

Format

Thesis

Title

Wrong Planet, Right Library: College Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder and the Academic Library.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has steadily increased in prevalence in recent years, with a current estimate of 1 in every 68 children eligible for such a diagnosis. Prevalence within the general population is reflected in the growing number of college and university students with ASD, with more students both registering for services than ever before – this does not include those who do not have a formal diagnosis or attempt to forge the academic journey without targeted support. College... Show moreAutism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has steadily increased in prevalence in recent years, with a current estimate of 1 in every 68 children eligible for such a diagnosis. Prevalence within the general population is reflected in the growing number of college and university students with ASD, with more students both registering for services than ever before – this does not include those who do not have a formal diagnosis or attempt to forge the academic journey without targeted support. College attrition rates are higher for college students with ASD than for neurotypical college students due to lack of previously available supports, along with characteristics of this population including challenges during periods of transition and difficulty adapting to social and behavioral norms. Academic library usage correlates to college retention for college students as a whole; however, no studies have yet been done to explore how college students with ASD use their academic libraries and, in turn, how this might play a role in their ultimate college success. The purpose of this study is to explore the experiences of college students with ASD in academic libraries. It seeks to understand their questions and concerns, as well as their experiences in utilizing the library and library resources. We know that individuals with ASD use the library, but there is little firsthand evidence to describe their experiences and barriers they face in accessing library services. By addressing these concerns, campus libraries and librarians can ultimately help to support ASD student retention. This exploratory study used a qualitative content analysis design to collect discussion board posts to the online forum Wrong Planet (wrongplanet.net). Wrong Planet, a robust forum with more than 80,000 members, was designed by individuals with ASD for individuals with ASD. Collecting these discussion posts allowed for an unobtrusive research design in which accounts from college students with ASD could be gathered and presented in their true, unedited language as they conversed with their peers in an unmediated online environment. Collecting data from this online forum was particularly important; there is evidence to support the hypothesis that individuals with ASD thrive in communicating online, as it removes some of the social barriers of face-to-face communication. Using the social model of disability studies, this study allowed for voices of students with ASD to be presented in their own words, not as mediated by parents, caregivers, or the perceptions of faculty and staff of their lived experiences. The social model also provides the framework in that librarians and libraries should be the ones to adapt services – not students with ASD adapting to suit neurotypical-centric services. Coding and analysis was both inductive and deductive and based on the research questions, emerging themes, and concepts from the Theory of Information Worlds. Findings demonstrate that when students with ASD go to the library it is often for the same purposes as neurotypical students – to study. However, students with ASD especially describe using the library as an escape from sensory overload. This study's findings reveal many contradictions that call for further research in this area. Students with ASD use the library as an auditory escape, yet many still find the library to be too loud or chaotic to suit their needs. They use the library for solitary pursuits, and yet many Wrong Planet members describe a longing for interaction. Wrong Planet members even provide one another with advice about initiating relationships with other library users, both platonically and romantically. This work fills a gap within the literature, allowing college students with ASD the opportunity to describe their experiences in the academic library as never before. While there is a growing body of knowledge about children with ASD and the library, this is potentially the first glimpse into the experiences of college students in their academic libraries. This study has particularly important implications for the role of academic libraries in ASD college student retention. We know that there is a high rate of attrition for college students with ASD, and that academic library use correlates with college student retention. The findings from this study demonstrate that college students with ASD use the library for a variety of reasons, including for solitary study, as an escape from overwhelming sensory environments, and for pursuit of interests. Academic libraries can address these needs and uses, and adapt services and supports to better serve the needs of this growing student population, thus contributing to their ultimate college retention and success. Show less

Date Issued

2016

Identifier

FSU_2016SP_Anderson_fsu_0071E_13037

Format

Thesis

Title

Participatory design of a health informatics system for rural health practitioners and disadvantaged women.

While advances in highly targeted therapies and increased use of mammogram services have contributed to the overall decline of breast cancer deaths in the United States, these benefits have not been distributed equitably. Less educated, poor, rural, non-Hispanic African American women have poorer access to cancer services and are less likely to have had a mammogram than are urban women. Lack of physician recommendations and perceived barriers in accessing diagnostic services are major factors... Show moreWhile advances in highly targeted therapies and increased use of mammogram services have contributed to the overall decline of breast cancer deaths in the United States, these benefits have not been distributed equitably. Less educated, poor, rural, non-Hispanic African American women have poorer access to cancer services and are less likely to have had a mammogram than are urban women. Lack of physician recommendations and perceived barriers in accessing diagnostic services are major factors that hinder the uptake of regular mammograms in rural communities. This article reports results of formative research conducted as part of a larger study focused on the participatory development of an electronic reminder system for breast cancer screening. The article discusses insights gained from focus groups with rural patients and clinicians about their information needs, breast cancer screening behaviors, barriers to care, and mammography referral practices. Show less

Date Issued

2010

Identifier

FSU_migr_slis_faculty_publications-0024, 10.1002/asi.21390

Format

Citation

Title

Distributed knowledge in an online patient support community: Authority and discovery.